So I’ve basically never done anything like this ever, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I’m getting ready to go to Miami next wee...

So I’ve basically never done anything like this ever, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I’m getting ready to go to Miami next week and take intensive writing classes from YoungArts! I was a merit winner under my real name (something I’ll probably be sharing on here pretty soon) and I’m super excited to be going, but since I am preparing for this trip, posts might be a little spotty throughout the first half of March. I’m going to try to schedule everything in advance, but, well, I guess we’ll just have to see how that goes. :)Also, I wanted to share this song with all of you, and it’s not because my world’s completely falling apart like the song talks about (as I said, I’m going to be writing all next week. EPICNESS). But because, even apart from the YoungArts thing, my life has all of the sudden gotten kinda busy (long story). And when I get busy, I get stressed because being busy inevitably means that I cannot do everything, and dash it all if I cannot do every little thing that I have decided I need/want to do. And I know it’s crazy. I know that it’s ridiculous when I allow even great things to become a source of stress. I know I need to just chill and let some stuff slide for the time being (not writing, but other stuff) so I can focus on what’s important. But I can’t help it. I am the type of person who wants to do EVERYTHING, or as freaking close to everything as possible, and accepting that there are periods of life where the extra stuff has to get shaved off for sanity’s sake is, well, a little hard on my sanity. But something I’ve been learning lately is that I don’t have to do everything, and not only do I not have to, I can’t. And all I need to do is chill and trust in His peace, relax and be held by Him, and then everything will work out for my good, whether I ever actually see it (like I am right now!) or not (which yeah, also happens).

So what’d you think of the song? Are you into Casting Crowns? What’s a song that more or less describes your life lately, or has been a theme song to keep going through a stressful time? Leave me a comment and let me know; I can’t wait to hear from you guys! :D

11:08 AM

Heyo, peoples! So I mentioned in my Epic Return post that I wasn’t sure if I’d do a lot of book reviews on this blog, but hey, I am a book...

Heyo, peoples! So I mentioned in my Epic Return post that I wasn’t sure if I’d do a lot of book reviews on this blog, but hey, I am a book bloggerand a writer, plus I love to talk about books and I desperately needed to update my Goodreads. So I have decided to post monthly mini-reviews (roughly translated in French to “les petites revues,” which I think sounds super elegant) about a few of the most notable books I read each month. :)

Review: As I was planning the post, I went back and reread a few sections of this book—just to kinda refresh my memory since I’d finished it almost a month ago—and within a single page, it had drawn me right back in to the narrative. The writing is that softer sort of magical, enchanting you and immersing you in the story so gently, that you don’t even realizing it until you try to come up for air. The plot is neat and interesting, not particularly deep, but it is an exciting ride; plus it’s based on such a fantastic idea (the world suddenly and utterly without explanation splitting up into different timeperiods all at once), that I could give it top stars just for that. In fact, if I could use one word to describe this whole novel, I would probably call it “unique,” Everything from the premise to the worldbuilding (GORGEOUSNESS AND BEAUTY), from the antagonist to the other characters (don’t want to give spoilers but I love what the author did with Theo) is unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

In short, this book is rather brilliant. I have the second one on my shelf, and I cannot wait until I get to read it. :D

Review: I kinda have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the plot is riveting and intense, the descriptions are fantastically creepy, and it includes a lot of deep concepts and questions with the potential to provoke a lot of deep thought (which I rather love). But then... then there’s Serafina. She... well, she’s one of those characters who has a lot of those moments in which they exhibit an extreme lack of sense. And I don’t know, I mean, she was only 12 and she had had basically no contact with the outside world, so maybe her reactions were perfectly reasonable, all things considered and I’m just being unfair. But... I just feel like a lot of the choices she made didn’t really make sense and that, even considering her situation, she should’ve known better than to do a lot of the things that she did. And because I’m a Ravenclaw, even if everything else is super cool, when characters make a lot of decisions that seem obviously bad to me, I tend to find myself really annoyed. :p

Review: Guys, I am so fantastically in love with this novel. Everything about is beautiful: the premise, the writing, the plot and delivery, thecharacters, oh my goodness, these characters, though. They’re just so gorgeously intricate and interesting andreal. They’re not unique, perse, but they seem... more nuanced, I guess. Like the author took the kids from your average orphan stories and added a few dimensions to them: “some extra strength here, a deep explanation for that there, oh, and here’s a hefty dose of that sarcastic sibling banter you ordered.” Just, everything about it is funny and creative and intensely exciting, plus the climax is epicness. It’s probably my favorite read so far this year (the only one that might beat it is Little Women. Go figure), and I am so glad that my library has the next two books, because I know what I’mma be reading this spring. ;)

Rating: 5 constellations out of 5 (because 5 stars is simply not enough)

***

And that’s all for this post! Have you read any of the books I mentioned? What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year, and what’s next on your TBR? Can’t wait to see you in the comment section, and have a fantastic day! :D

10:57 AM

So I really didn’t know what I was going to do for my early-week post until last night. I didn’t have a particular song to show you guys, I...

So I really didn’t know what I was going to do for my early-week post until last night. I didn’t have a particular song to show you guys, I didn’t have much for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, I did have a tag (which I will do eventually), but it was kinda long and would probably require pics, and I was too lazy to complete it in time for it to go live this morning.

Then I remembered how I wanted to start doing writing updates since I am, in fact,a writer, but I haven’t posted too much recently about my writing projects. And then I realized why:

I’m really not working on any.

I mean, sure I have my blog as well as some stories I post online, but as far as original manuscripts, I’m not doing much. My co-writer and I have sent Becoming Braveout to beta readers and some days, if we have time, we look into agents and organize our query letter, but we’re not really doing much work on the project itself. I had tried to work on Low Expectations everyday, but in all honesty, my commitment to that project fluctuates, and as of late, it has fallen.

I make excuses, of course. Mostly, that I just don’t have time. Which is kind of crazy because you wouldn’t think I’d be that busy—I’m not in college but I’m only like, half in high school, lol, some sort of in-between, college-searching, scholarship-essay-writing preparatory stage—but somewhere in between school, my, well, quarter-time job, family, blogging, online stories, reading, and general procrastination, I let my actual writing fall through the cracks.

But that’s not something I’m allowing anymore.

Like Heather said in her Just 100 Words post, sometimes you can’t manage as much writing as you’d like to (there actually issometruth to me not having enough time to work on all my projects), and I’m not going to magically have less responsibilities or more time. To be perfectly honest, I’m probably not going to magically stop procrastinating or wasting time on less important things either, at least not immediately. But what I am going to do is commit to working on one of my original projects for at least 10 minutes everyday before I go to bed.

It’s not the number I wish I could go for, but in a week, that 10 minutes will build into 70 (which will be 70 more than I did last week). And who knows? Maybe working on the projects everyday will rekindle the fire, and I’ll find the motivation to carve out even more time to work on them.

So how’s your writing been going lately? Life eating up the minutes or do you write like you’re running out of time? ;) Tell me about your latest projects in the comments! I can’t wait to hear from you. :)

10:58 PM

So not gonna lie, I actually forget I was supposed to do this until like an hour ago. :p Sorry about that! Poem: Old Words by Mariella ...

So not gonna lie, I actually forget I was supposed to do this until like an hour ago. :p Sorry about that!

The Calling by Ophelia. In which she talks about the amazing places God is leading her this summer and how we can help her get there.

An Ode To Exhaustion by Ive. In which my good friend Ive shares some encouraging truths about being exhausted (you should also totally check out her introductory post about the gap she noticed in the internet community, if you haven’t already read it).

WBI: Volturi by Heather. I may or may not have tackled this post the second the email showed up in my feed (what can I say? I’ve been waiting for it since she did the other Twilight villains). As usual, it’s thoughtful and insightful and reveals nuances in these villains’ characters I’d never even noticed before. You should really check it out.

Enormity by Sarah. Wow. Just wow. I’m telling you, that’s basically the only thing you can think to say after this.

***

Well, that’s it for this week (unfortunately, I have not read as much as I should have. *desperately needs to get back on the ball with her blog subscriptions*). Tell me (if you believe and you feel like sharing), what’s some awesome new things God’s shown you lately? Have a favorite unconventional villain? If you did the writer super power exercise, share an excerpt in the comments! Can’t wait to see you guys down below, and have a fantastic weekend! :D

10:36 AM

Heyo peoples! You may recall this Monday’s melody , in which I shared a song that one of my protagonists (Kemp) plays for his girlfriend (K...

Heyo peoples! You may recall this Monday’s melody, in which I shared a song that one of my protagonists (Kemp) plays for his girlfriend (Kat) at a calmer point in my teen spy thriller, What’s Real. Well, today, I’m going to drag these two out of the woodwork and force them to answer questions about their relationship that they may or may not even know the answers to.

Sadly, I don’t have pictures for both of them, but I do have this quote pic I made off of something I found on Pinterest (for the life of me, I can’t find the original link and I may or may not have gone a little crazy searching for it). The kids in this picture don’t look anything like my charries, but the emotion of the image really captures the emotion of some of the calmer points in the novel, so I decided to use this instead.

How did they first meet?

This was a question I’d actually never considered and neither of them were very forthcoming *glares covertly at my interviewees* BUT. I was able to talk to Kat’s twin brother, Shiro, and uncover the truth. So there.

Kat: *glares at her brother* You didn’t.

Shiro: *shrugs* It’s not like it was anything incriminating. Besides, you two only met because I introduced you, so you ought to be thanking me instead of threatening me.

Kemp: No actual threats have been issued.

Kat: Yet.

Me: All right pipe down, you three. Geez. And we haven’t even answered the first question yet. Shiro, if you please.

Shiro: *darts a glance at his sister and her boyfriend, then nods at me* Well, see, Kemp moved in a couple of years ago, I guess we were all... 13? Mom sent me outside one day to “get some sunshine” (as if I can’t open a stupid window), and I was walking around the block, counting the seconds until I could get back to my computers, when I ran into Kemp, the new kid in the neighborhood. He seemed as out of touch with the world as I felt, so I invited him over to play some video games, since all the other boys I knew thought I was a nerd (the losers), and my mother was beginning to worry that I would grow up completely awkward and unsocialized. Anyways, Kemp was really good at Sonic and the Secret Rings, but after he met my sister, he didn’t really want to play with me anymore. But I can’t complain cuz *bats eyes at them* it’s been true love ever since.

Kat: *sputters* That is highly inaccurate.

Shiro: *innocently* What, you mean you’re not in love?

Kat: Shiro—

Me: ALL RIGHTY. On to the second one.

What were their first impressions of each other?

Me: *stares expectantly at the charries* Wellllll?

Shiro: I could answer.

Kat: *mutters* You could die.

Me: Now, now, none of that. And Shiro, you hush. You can’t tell the readers what Kemp and Kat thought of each other because you’re not a mindreader.

Shiro: How do you know?

Kat: She’s the author, stupid.

Me: Kat. I will not have you calling your brother names. This isn't your novel. And just for that, you get to answer the question first.

Kat: *groans* Fine. First impression, I saw Kemp on the floor playing video games with my brother, and, while he caught on very quickly and he didn’t look bored, his posture suggested that he had far better things to do than tap away at a bunch of stupid, useless buttons and waste brain cells that could be used for more important endeavors. Like weapons development and world peace. So I guess you could say I liked him.

Me: Wow. Okay. Kemp?

Kemp: My first impression was based not on sight but on sound. I heard her footsteps as she tiptoed across their carpet, as though she was attempting to be silent but wasn’t quite managing.

Me: Okaaay. So what did that tell you?

Kemp: That she was not good at tiptoeing.

Me: *sighs* I guess that’s the best I can hope for.

How long have they been a couple?

Shiro: I said it was true love—

Me: Toshiro Aneeq, one more word out of you, and I will make you leave and bring you and Coyé up next. Got it?

Shiro: *sulks*

Me: Got it?

Shiro: Yes.

Me: Good. *smiles brightly* Kemp? Kat?

Kat: Define couple.

Me: *through teeth* Kat. Please. We both know that you know what I mean by that.

Kemp: We have been a “couple,” as you put it, for approximately a year, but exact dates are of little consequence.

Me: Because you’re so in love the days flew by?

Kemp: *frowns* No. Because I intend to stay with her for the remainder of our lives. She could never find someone like me, and I could never find someone like her. So past length does not matter so much as future length, and honestly, both matter little. No one can predict one’s lifespan, and especially with recent events in our line of work, we may be dead tomorrow. So we simply live each day as it comes.

Kat: *breathes* Wow.

Me: If you put aside all the morbid parts of what you just said, that was actually kinda cute.

How committed/loyal are they to each other? Would they break up over a secret or a disagreement? Could stress drive them apart? Would they die for each other?

Kat: *rolls eyes* He just said we’ll be together for the remainder of our lives. Do you really need us to elaborate?

Shiro: But stress almost did drive you apart in the first half—

Me: TOSHIRO. OUT. *shoves him away, locks the door, turns back to Kat and Kemp* You were saying?

Kemp: *slowly* As Toshiro pointed out... we have had our disagreements. But I am not ashamed to tell anyone that nothing will drive me away from her. Also, anyone who attempts to drive us apart will receive—

Me: Okay! Haha, let’s not forget that we’re trying to stay romantic and not violent today, kay? Kay. What about the other questions?

Kat: *sighs* Fine, let’s just get this over with: No, I don’t think so. We would argue and we’d be angry for a while, but we’d eventually work things out, as evidenced by the beginning of when you begin to document our story. And of course I would die for him. I couldn’t... Well, there’s no... It would be hard to live without him.

Kemp: I concur with her statements on secrets, disagreements, and stress.

Kat: Wait, what about dying for me?

Kemp: Do not assume that I do not value your life above my own. However, I do have my siblings to consider.

Kat: I’d take care of them, you know.

Kemp: I am aware that you would perform the task to your utmost ability. However, they do require my presence and care.

Me: Aaaand we always come back to your issues, darling.

Both: What do you mean—

Me: MOVING ON.

List 5 “food quirks” they know about each other. (Ex: how they take their coffee, if they’re allergic to something, etc….and feel free to mention other non-food quirks!)

Kat: *frowns* Why do they need to know that?

Kemp: *shifts, presumably to better reach the weapon in his boot* Is one of them attempting to poison her?

Me: What? Guys, no. It’s just supposed to be, you know, cute, that you know the little things about each other.

Kemp: Allergies are not a little thing.

Me: *stares* Dude. You have allergies, don’t you?

Kat: *suspiciously* Why didn’t you already know that?

Me: Because I’m just documenting your ridiculous adventures and nobody ever tells me anything anyways. You lot write yourselves. Anywho. *turns back to Kemp* What are you allergic to?

Kemp: *eyes me* I do not think it would be favorable for my health to inform you.

Me: Fine. I’ll figure it out later. How do you take your coffee?

Kemp: I do not make a habit of consuming caffeine in that form.

Kat: Black.

Me: Fine then. Be that way.

Does anyone disapprove of their relationship?

Kat: Excepting Shiro’s occasional comments, not that either of us have been made aware of.

Me: Finally. A simple answer.

What would be an ideal date?

Me: Wait a second, do you two even go on a date in the entire book?

Kat: *shrugs defensively* Why would we? We’re trying to protect our nation from two opposing government organizations grappling for an unpredictable weapon of mass destruction. We have better things to do than go on dates.

Me: *cocks head to side* Heh, fair enough. Though I could point out that Shiro and Coyé make time. But I won’t.

Kemp: But you just—

Me: Hush, darling. What would be an ideal date then?

*silence*

Me: Well?

Kat: *shrugs* You told us to hush.

Me: Well, isn’t someone saucy. I told him to hush, so you’re perfectly free to answer.

Kat: Fine. Something intellectual. Like a visit to a museum or a historical monument.

Me: *deadpan* You want to look at a bunch of dead people’s stuff on your dates. Great. Want a side of zombie with that?

Kat: Don’t be stupid. Zombies are more for people of my brother’s level of intellect.

Kemp: *thinks for a second* I... enjoy the short walks we take. But I would do whatever Kat wanted.

Me: *grins* I knew you could be cute if you tried.

What are their personality dynamics? Similar? Contrasting? Do they fight a lot or mesh perfectly?

Kat: Like you mentioned in another post, we’re very similar. Because we understand each other, we “mesh” pretty well most of the time.

Me: Well, youwere quick to answer that.

Kat: We’re almost done. The quicker we answer, the quicker I get back to my life.

Me: Hmph. Fine, then. Though I would like to point out that you mesh perfectly, unless you disagree on something. But because you’re more opinionated, more stubborn, and Kemp sees you as his commanding officer, he always defers to your judgment.

Kat: That’s not—

Me: And here’s another one for you to answer quickly.

What have been their best and worst moments together as a couple?

Kat: They cannot actually expect us to answer that.

Me: I think they technically expect me to answer it. But bringing you two out for things is way more fun than answering the questions myself, and besides, I’m not writing in your manuscript right now (a million apologies!), so I never get to spend time with you two.

Shiro: *from other side of door* Doesn’t bother them!

Me: I’ll be right back. *marches off to deal with Shiro*

Kat: Kemp, she’s gone.

Kemp: I am aware. But we cannot return to our dimension without her.

Kat: Yeah, but if we go ahead and answer this last question, she’ll let us go back and we can finally be done with this stupid interview. So:

Where do they see themselves and their relationship in the next few years?

Kat: Why do they insist on repeating the same questions? We’ve already stated that we’ll be together for the remainder of our lives. Assuming we’ve neither been caught by the government or thrown into jail for crimes we didn’t exactly commit, I guess we’ll be heading towards marriage by then.

*sighs* And now you see all I have to deal with with my little preciouses. Still, I do adore them, I wouldn’t trade them for anything, and I can’t wait until I have time to work on their story again. :D

So tell me about a couple from your manuscript (or just a literary couple you adore)! If you did Beautiful People, leave me a link so I can read your post! Can’t wait to see you in the comment section! :D Ciao!

Hiya!

Alexandria, better known as Alex or Alexa, is a strange Christian-fangirl-YA-writer medley tucked away in an undisclosed location in Virginia. She loves creating worlds out of keystrokes, discovering adorable ships (platonic or romantic), and becoming besties with clever characters who wow her with smarts and sass.